Dublin
With reminders of its stirring history and rich culture on every corner, Ireland's capital and largest city is a sightseer's delight. Dublin punches above its weight in arts, entertainment, food, and fun. While bullet-pocked buildings and dramatic statues keep memories of Ireland's struggle for independence alive, today's Dublin is lively, easy, and extremely accessible.
At a Glance
▲▲▲ Book of Kells in the Trinity Old Library Exquisite illuminated manuscript, the most important piece of art from the Dark Ages.
▲▲▲ National Museum of Archaeology Excellent collection of Irish treasures from the Stone Age to today.
▲▲▲ Kilmainham Gaol Historic jail used by the British as a political prison — today a museum that tells a moving story of the suffering of the Irish people.
▲▲ Historical Walking Tour of Dublin Group tour that makes for the best introduction to Dublin.
▲▲ Traditional Irish Musical Pub Crawl Fascinating, practical, and enjoyable primer on traditional Irish music.
▲▲ Trinity College Campus Tour Ireland's most famous school, best visited with a 30-minute student-led tour.
▲▲ Chester Beatty Library American expatriate's sumptuous collection of literary and religious treasures from Islam, Asia, and medieval Europe.
▲▲ Temple Bar Dublin's rowdiest neighborhood, with shops, cafés, theaters, galleries, pubs, and restaurants — a great spot for live traditional music.
▲▲ O'Connell Street Dublin's grandest promenade and main drag, packed with history and ideal for a stroll.
▲▲ EPIC: The Irish Emigration Museum Creative displays about the Irish diaspora that highlight the impact emigrants make on their new homelands.
▲▲ 14 Henrietta Street Time capsule of urban Dublin life, following the 150-year decline of an aristocratic Georgian townhouse into a tenement slum.
▲ National Gallery of Ireland Fine collection of top Irish painters and European masters.
▲ Dublin Castle Once the city's historic 700-year-old castle, now a Georgian palace, featuring ornate English state apartments.
▲ Dublin City Hall and "Story of the Capital" Exhibit Grand 18th-century building occupied by rebel Irish forces in the 1916 Easter Rising.
▲ Christ Church Cathedral Neo-Gothic cathedral on the site of an 11-century Viking church.
▲ Dublinia Fun, kid-friendly look at Dublin's Viking and medieval past with a side order of archaeology and a cool town model.
▲ St. Patrick's Cathedral According to legend, the holy site where St. Patrick first baptized Irish converts.
▲ Jeanie Johnston Tall Ship and Famine Museum Floating exhibit on the River Liffey explaining the famine period that prompted desperate transatlantic crossings (by tour only).
▲ Dublin Writers Museum Collection of authorial bric-a-brac.
▲ GPO Witness History Exhibit Immersive presentation on the 1916 Easter Rising and its impact on Irish history, situated in the General Post Office building that served as rebel headquarters.
▲ Guinness Storehouse Home of Ireland's national beer, with a museum of beer-making, a gallery of clever ads, and Gravity Bar with panoramic city views.
▲ National Museum of Decorative Arts and History Shows off Irish dress, furniture, silver, and weaponry with a special focus on the 1916 rebellion, fight for independence, and civil war.
▲ Gaelic Athletic Association Museum High-tech museum of traditional Gaelic sports (hurling and Irish football).
Plan
Photos
Watch
Read
- A Short Walk Through Ireland’s Long History
- Booking It Through Europe: Top Literary Stops
- Boyne Valley: A Dazzling Dublin Day Trip
- Dublin: Big-City Sights and Small-Town Smiles
- Dublin’s Urban Thrills
- Engaging Experts Enrich European Experiences
- Europe’s Emigration Museums: Remembering the Long Goodbye
- Europe’s Wide World of Traditional Sports
- Pubs, Parades, and St. Patrick’s Day in Dublin
- Visiting Europe’s Top University Sights
Dublin
Listen
- A Week in Ireland (17:51)
- Dublin, Ireland's Capital (47:17)
- Stroll Through Dublin (12:16)
- Walking Tour of Dublin (18:32)
Dublin Audio Tours
- Dublin City Walk 1: South Bank
Listen or Download | Download map - Dublin City Walk 2: O'Connell Street
Listen or Download | Download map